Paint spray booth treatment

Abstract

This invention relates to an improved method for treating paint wastes and paint oversprays encountered in wet paint spray booths or any areas where these wastes and oversprays exist.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A process for detackifying and coagulating paint, lacquer, or enamel in spray booths in which water is used to wash air in said booth and to remove oversprayed paints, enamels, or lacquers from said water prior to said water being recirculated for further washing the air in said spray booth, said process consisting essentially of the steps of adding to said water a sufficient amount for the purpose of a water-soluble or water-dispersible cationic polymer selected from the group consisting of: condensation polymers of dimethylamine and epichlorohydrin and ethylene diamene,   condensation polymers of melamine and formaldehyde,   condensation polymers of diethylenetriamine and adipic acid and epichlorohydrin,   condensation polymer of dimethylaminopropylamine and epichlorohydrin, and   condensation polymer of dimethylamine and epichlorohydrin, in selective combination with a sufficient amount for the purpose of a water-soluble salt selected from the group consisting of metasilicate, orthosilicate, disilicate, mixed silicates, metaaluminate, molybdates, phosphomolybdates and phosphates, the anion of said salt reacting with said polymer to cause said polymer to form a precipitate in said water which in turn detackifies and coagulates said paint, lacquer or enamel to provide a paint sludge that is high in solids and low in volume.   
     
     
       2. A process as recited in claim 1 wherein said water soluble or water dispersible cationic polymer is added in an amount of from about 0.05 to 5 weight percent and said salt is added in an amount sufficient to produce 0.01 to 15 weight percent anion, both based upon the weight of said oversprayed paint, lacquer or enamel. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said anion is a silicate anion. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is a condensation polymer of dimethylamine, epichlorohydrin and ethylene diamine and said anion is a silicate anion. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is a condensation polymer of melamine and formaldehyde and said anion is a silicate anion. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is a condensation polymer of dimethylaminopropylamine and epichlorohydrin and said anion is a silicate anion. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is a condensation polymer of diethylenetriamine and adipic acid and epichlorohydrin. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is a condensation polymer of dimethylamine and epichlorohydrin and said anion is a silicate anion.